Infolding machines for fabrics containing crease-resisting additive



Apnl 28, 1959 w. H. ROGERS 2,884,167

INFOLDING MACHINES FOR FABRICS CONTAINING CREASE-RESISTING ADDITIVE Filed May 16, 1957 United States Patent INFOLDING MACHINES FOR FABRICS CONTAIN- ING CREASE-RESISTING ADDITIVE William H. Rogers, Reading, Mass., assignor to Reece Folding Machine Company, Woburn, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application May 16, 1957, Serial No. 659,688

3 Claims. (Cl. 223-38) This invention relates to a machine for infolding or pressing fabrics carrying a crease-resisting additive.

In quantity manufacturing, it is customary to precrease certain portions before they are applied to a garment, which greatly reduces the labor of manufacture. Where, however, the fabrics are rendered crease-resistant by impregnating with an additive, the precreasing is diflicul-t. It has been possible to subject the additive-containing piece to a volatile solvent such that during the pressing the fabric may be softened while it is creased; but this practice has added another step to the labor of manufacture, and even so, the fabric to be creased is not always in the most ideal condition for pressing.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine which will receive the impregnated pieces, add to them precisely the most effective quantity of the additive solvent, and then, after the solvent has softened the fabric to the ideal condition, subject it to the creasing operation.

The invention accordingly comprises the combined softening and creasing machine hereinafter described, one embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the figure is a perspective view of a machine embodying this invention.

Since details of the creasing or pressing machine form no part of this invention except as shown, no other details are here recited.

In the drawings, the numeral represents the body of a creasing machine having hinged thereto creasing elements 11 and 12 and a pressing head 13. These details form no specific part of the present invention, and the parts are operated in the usual manner by a treadle 14. Any form of creasing or pressing machine may be used in the combination herein claimed, such, for example, as that shown in Patent No. 2,453,623 of November 9, 1948, issued to Gilbert.

Mounted on the frame is a table 15 adapted to receive a pile of precut fabric pieces 16 which are to be creased. Mounted also upon the frame or on the table 15 is a spray gun 17 positioned to cover with its spray the upper piece from the pile 16. As here shown, this gun 17 is adjustably mounted on a post 18 extending up from the table 15. Fluid solvent is supplied to the spray gun 17 from a container 19 through a tube 20. The spray gun 17 is operated by compressed air from a tube 21 under control of a valve 22, which admits it to or shuts it ofl? from the spray gun 17. This valve 22 is actuated by a timer 23. The density of the spray projected by the gun is adjustable 2,884,167. Patented Apr. 28, 1959 by adjustment of the valve mechanism 22 in the usual way.

Adjustably geared to the drive mechanism of the creasing machine as here shown, a cam 24 is mounted on the drive shaft 25 of the creasing machine, the shaft being such that it makes one revolution for each operation of the creaser. The cam 24 is shown as having upon its periphery a lug 24a which engages the actuator 26 of the timing switch. The position of the cam 24 on the shaft 25 determines the time in the creasing cycle when the spray gun starts to operate and the circumferential length of the lug 24a determines how long the spray will continue.

The length of time between the spraying and the creasing is in part determined by the time between successive operations of the machine and this in itself in actual operation is a relatively constant quantity by an experienced operator. It may also be altered or adjusted by adjusting the cam 24 on the shaft, or, if necessary, altering the length of the operating cycle of the creaser itself.

The operation of the device will be understood from its construction. The operator with a new pile of pieces first closes the creaser, thus operating the spray gun to spray the top piece with the additive. The creaser goes through its first cycle empty. As soon as the creaser again opens, however, the operator takes the top sprayed piece from the pile and inserts it in the machine. The operator then again depresses the treadle and the machine spray gun sprays the next piece while the folder folds the one which was previously sprayed and inserted. Thereafter, since the operator actuates the machine at rela tively constant intervals, each piece is pressed at the time When in the most suitable condition for folding and yet no motions are demanded of the operator in excess of those required to use the creaser itself.

What is claimed is:

1. An infolding machine for fabrics containing a crease-resistant additive, which machine comprises a frame carrying creasing elements and a table adjacent to said frame adapted to support a pile of pieces to be creased, a spray gun mounted above said table in position to discharge an additive solvent on said pile, and an actuating mechanism for actuating said creasing elements and for operating said spray gun at a predetermined point in the machine cycle of operation to spray one piece while another is being creased.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which the spray gun operating mechanism includes means for adjusting said predetermined point.

3. A machine according to claim 1, in which the spray gun operating mechanism includes means for altering the quantity of the spray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,782,989 Frederick Nov. 25, 1930 2,029,922 Heckel Feb. 4, 1936 2,281,970 Gilbert May 5, 1942 2,453,623 Gilbert et a1 Nov. 9, 1948 2,606,272 Platt Aug. 5, 1952 2,673,666 Silverman Mar. 30, 1954 

